Switching from one OS to another is a significant friction point for consumers at multiple levels, including moving user data, getting used to the new user experience, and perhaps the availability of the applications.
Today, Google makes it easier for iOS users to move their data from iOS to Android thanks to the free Switch to Android iOS app.
The app requires a Google account (and an active internet connection) since the data transfer happens via Google Drive.
From the official screenshots, we can see that typical data such as Contacts, Calendars, Photos, and Videos are transferred. Keep in mind that some apps data might not be transferred, so do some research and assume that only the above will be transferred.
The Google switching app also allows moving photos from iCloud to Google Photo in a bid to win additional market share. Admittedly, Google Photo is a solid storage option, and if you’re going to use Android, it makes total sense. I highly recommend Google Photo, but keep in mind that Microsoft’s OneDrive could also be a viable option.
Since apps aren’t moved, there’s still a significant point of friction that could have been alleviated by at least installing apps that have an iOS equivalent. That should have been an easy low-hanging fruit.
The data transfer from an iOS to an Android version of the app is much more problematic and would require developer validation. However, that could also be something that developers could flag, and perhaps a conversion mechanism (provided by each app) could be added as an API in the future.
I wish there were a wired version of this transfer process, but it’s wireless only for now, so it could take a while if you have a 512GB device with lots of data.
This new app is slightly easier to use than the previous method that was based on a “Backup to Google Drive” methodology. Hopefully, this will keep evolving because anything that allows users to switch platforms is beneficial.
Filed in . Read more about Android, Google, iOS and iPhone. Source: techcrunch
